Drag-line scoop-bucket



H. M. SHERWOOD.

DRAG LlNE SCOOP BUCKET;

APPLICATION FILED JAN-27,1920.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

awuwtoz H. M. SHERWOOD.

, DRAG LINE SCOOP BUCKET.

APPLICATION FILED JAN-27,1920.

1,395 ,988. Patented Nov- 1, 1921.

2 SHEETSSHEEf 2.

HOWARD M. SHERWOOD, or vANnALIA, onIo.

DRAG-LINE SCOOP-BUCKET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

7 Application filed January 27, 1920. Serial No. 354,508.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD M. SHER- Wool), a citizen of'the United States, residthat is open at one end only. It is particu-9 larly-intended for operation in an outward direction by being dropped to its work near the foot of the boom, and drawnoutwarcl toward the end of the boom, in a direction reverse to that usually employed.

-The object of the invention is to simplify the structure, as well 'as the means and mode of operation of drag line scoop buckets whereby they will not only be cheapened in construction, but will be more eflicient in use, positive in operation, easily controlled, and unlikely to get out of repair.

A further object of the inventionis to provide improved control means for the scoop bucket andto provide means whereby the bucket will automatically dump or discharge its load.

A further object of the invention is to provide improved harness for such a scoop bucket.

With the above primary and other incidental objects in view as will more fully appear in the specification, the invention 'comprlses a receptacle 8 opened only at one I consists in the features of construction, the parts and combinations thereof, and the mode of operation or their equivalents as hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.

Referring to the drawings, F igure 1 is a side elevation somewhat diagrammatic in character illustrating the mode of operation of the improved scoop bucket andthe vari ous features of control therefor- Fig.2"is aperspective view of a closed type scoop bucket embodying the present invention. Fig; 3 is a detailed sectional view thereof. Fig. 4is.

'a detail view illustrating the control of an I open type of bucket. Fig. 5 illustrates 'a multiple purchase for the control line. Figs. 6. and 7 illustrate modifications.

' Like parts are indicated by similar characters of reference throughout the several views.

While the scoop bucket forming the subject matter hereof has been shown in Fig. 1 as mounted upon an oscillatory supporting structure having an outwardly and upwardly projecting boom, as is commonly employed, it is to be understood. that the scoop bucket may also be mounted uponan overhead cable or be connected between stationary supports or towers at the opposite ends of its path of travel. The supporting structure shown in Fig. 1 is for the purposeof illustration only,,and to show the various positions assumed by the bucket at various,

stages of its operation.

In the drawings, 1 is the usual power plant mounted for rotary movement upon a base 2, and carrying an outwardlyand upwardly extending boom 3. The power plant 1 em-, bodiesthe usual power'actuated winches or drums 4 and 5 for the drag line and bucket or control line respectively. Thedrag line extends from the winchror drum tupwardly to the guide sheave 6 ,at the end of the boomf3 and thence downward to the "bucket, while the bucket line or control line s carried from the winch or drum 5 over a guide sheave 7, located adjacent to the foot of the boomand then to the bail of the bucket as hereinafter described. By the retraction and slackening. of the drag and bucket line, the bucket is carriedthrough its various operative movements.

The'scoop bucket shown in Figs. 2 and 3,

end as at 9; This bucket comprises four sides 10 10*, 10, and 10 and a bottomll. hen it is operated or digging the bucket reclines upon the side 10 and is drawn open end forward until it is filled with excavated matter". In order to assist the excavation the forward edge of thebucket or scoop is provided with digging fingers 12. Fixedly at- .tached tothe forward endof the scoop or bucket is an arch 13. Pivotally connected "adjacent to the bottom 11 and upper side 10- Y of the bucket or scoopis an offset shapedbail ltis both below and offset later or L-shaped bail'lt. The pivotal point 15 of the L- pended V excavated materialwithin the bucket being trieved thus the bucket is V a vertical position, thus retaining all the con- 5O ally from-the center of gravity of the filled bucket when supported upright with its open end uppermost, as in position III of Fig. 1. Connected to the lower forward por tion of the pivoted L-shaped bail 14: is the bridle 16 to which is connected the end of the drag line 17. It is understood that the bridle 16 comprises a chain or cable, the opposite ends of which are connected to the apposite forward corners of the bail, while the cable 17 is connected to the medial portion of the bight of such bridle. A bucket 'or control line 18 passing from the winch or drum 5 over the guide sheave 7 passes then over a second guide sheave 19, mounted in suitable bearings on the top of the pivoted bail 1 1 and extends therebeyond and is edly connected with the rigid arch 13 ofthe scoop bucket. The arrangement of the bucket line over the guide sheave 19 is such that as long as the bucket linev 18 is held taut the scoop bucket arch 13 and hail 14 are held closely adjacent. If the bucket r control line is 'slacke'ned only as the drag line is retrieved, the control line being kept tight in the mean time,--the bucket is drawn forward in a substantially horizontal position as shownat pos1t1on'I-1n' F g. 1. However,

if while being drawn forth by the drag line the control line 18 is slacked off, the engagementof'the digging fingers 12 in'the material to be excavated retards the lower forward edge of the bucket while the drag line draws the'bail forward tending to tilt the scoop bucket downwardly and forwardly as shown in. the position II, Fig. 1. By this manipulation of the control orbucket line the operator maycause the bucket to de scendi to greater or less degree'into the material tobe excavated thereby facilitating the'eXcavation and the filhngof the-bucket.

After the bucket *has been sufficiently charged withexcavating material the drag 7 line 17 being retrieved, the bucket is drawn upwardly'and forwardly, 'while'the control or bucket line 18 is held comparatively tight, being relieved only as the drag llne is retents thereof. When the bucket has been carried to a point beneath the end of the boom as shown in position IV, and is susentirely upon the drag line, the'control or bucket line is slacked off thus releasing the bucket or scoop in relation with the bail 14. The preponderance of the load of at the-forward or outer side .when'the bucket 'is'upright as shown in position-III,Fig. 1,, I

the'bucket will automatically reverse itself through influence of gravity, as the control er bucket line isreleased, and will assume I the position shown in position IV thereby discharging or. dumping the load. V

In order to return the bucket to its point swung upward in.

the bottom thereof to permit the escape of.

air and also of'watenin the event'that the operat on is the 'dredging of the bottom of a .lake or river. The arrangement herein disclosed gives constant control overthe move ment of the bucket enabling the operator to gage the depth of operation and it enables the movement of large bodies of, excavated material.

In lieu of a closed type of bucket as shown in F igs. 2 and 3, an'open bucket maybe lifted and retained in horizontal position by proper manipulation ofthe oontrol'lin'e as shown in Fig. 4:. By receiving a series of strands of control line over suitable blocks or sheaves between the arch 18' and hail 1 1 as in Fig. 5, less tension will be required on the control line. It will be understood'that 'c'onsiderable force or pull is exerted by the bucket in the digging operation, This is more effectively resisted by the useof a p'ur-' chase or tackle as inFig. 5, at the same time less power is required on the control line.

In Fig. 6 there is shown a modification in whiclnin lieuof the L shaped bail 1 1,"there areshown parallel forwardly extending arms 21 which may or may not beconnected by a spreader 22 at their forward ends. The

draft rigging 16 is connected to the forward in lieu of a'single control line 18, there provided a bridle 18 comprising two strands of cable separated'by a spreader 23. These strands of cable each pass over the sheave 24 onthe corresponding arm 21, and are at tached' to the bucket at 25." It will be ,ob-

vious that by tightening or slackening the control cable 18, the bucket is turned about its trunnions 15' with the arms 21, causing it to assume more or less inclined relation 7 with the lineof draft. In Fig. 7, the construction is quite the same except that t arms 21 are extended'forwardly'a consider-1 I able distance beyondthebucket, and joined at their forward endsto which the drag line 17 is attached. Thisextension ofthearms 21'affords greater leverage and tends to de crease any wabbling or side'motionfof the bucket during the digging operation The control'cable s arrangedasshow-n in'Fig. 6 andheretofore described. "In the constructionsiillustrated in Figs. 6 and 7 the bucket hasbeen'shown of the opentype, It; is to] be understood that a closedtype bucket may 105, ends of the arms 21. In this construct1on,

be substituted in the constructions shown in Figs. 6 and 7, or an open bucket may be employed in the constructions shown in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. 7 I i .From the above description it will be apparent that theresis thus provided a device of the character described possessing the particular featuresof advantage, before enumerated as desirable, but which obviously'is susceptible of modification in its form, proportions, detail construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the principle involved or sacrificing any'of its advantages.

WVhile in order to comply with the statute the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the specific details shown, but that the means and construction herein disclosed comprise but one of several modes of putting the invention into effect, and the invention is therefore claimed in any of its forms or modifications Within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, I claim: 7

1. In a drag line excavator, a scoop bucket, a forwardlyextending drag line operatively attached adjacent to the rear of said bucket,

by which the bucket is actuated in its operative movement, and a retrieving line at tached adjacent to the forward portion of the bucket and a guide upon the drag line connection for said retrieving line, the oscillatory movement of the bucket about its connection with the drag line being controlled by the retrieving line.

2. In a drag line excavator, a bucket, a drag line and a bucket control line, a draft connection for the drag line adjacent to the rear of the bucket, the bucket control line being connected to the bucket in advance of the drag line connection thereto, and means for controlling said lines.

3.-In a drag line excavator a bucket, a bucket control line and a drag line connected to the bucket in reversed spaced relation, and exerting their pulling influence substantially in opposite directions thereupon, said lines each extending across the other to its draft connection with the bucket, and means for controlling said lines.

4-. In a drag line excavator, a bucket, two independent control lines connected to the bucket, in reversed spaced relation each line being adapted to tilt the bucket in opposite direction from the horizontal, the rear end of the bucket being tilted upwardly and forwardly under the influence of one line,

' and the forward end of the bucket being tilted upwardly and rearwardly under the influence of the other line, and means for controlling said lines.

5. In a drag line excavator, a bucket, a

draftline connected to the bucket below and at one side of the center of gravity when the bucket is suspended in loaded condition, whereby thetendency of the bucket is to retate about the line connection to inverted position and a control line connected to the bucket above the center of gravity when so suspended and leading in a direction opposite to the direction in which the bucket tends to rotate, and means for controlling said lines. o 7

6 In a drag line excavator, a bucket, a bail pivotally attached thereto to the rear of and above the center of gravity when the bucket is in'horizontal scooping position, a forwardly" extending drag line connected to the bail, a rearwardly extending bucket control line attached to the forward portion of the bucket and a guide on said bail engaging the bucket control line. 7

7. Ina drag'line excavator, a bucket, an L-shaped bail pivotally connected thereto to the rear of and above the center of gravity of the bucket when in its horizontal or digging position, a drag line connected to the angle of said L-shaped bail and a bucket control line connected to the forward portion' of the bucket and of the L-shaped bail.

8. In a drag line excavator, a bucket, a

guided by the arch bail therefor extending over the top of the i bucket and downwardly on each side thereof when the bucket is in horizontal charging position, and extendingthence rearwardly and pivotally connected to the bucket near the rear thereof, a forwardly extending line attached to said bail, and a rearwardly extending bucket line connected to the forward portion of the bucket controlling the oscillatory movement of thebucket and bail in relation one with the other.

9. In a drag line excavator, a bucket, a drag'line connected adjacent to the rear of the bucket, a bucket control line connected adjacent to the front of the bucket and adapted to regulate the oscillatory movement of the forward end of the bucket about the drag line connection to and from the line of draft of the drag line.

' 10. In a drag line excavator, a bucket, a bail therefor connected adjacent to the rear of the bucket, a drag line connected to the bail, and a variable connection between the forward end of the bucket and the bail by which the oscillation of the bucket about thewhich becomes the bottom of the bucket when in' conveying position whereby the bucket has a tendency to over topple through influence of gravity to discharge its contents, and a variable interconnection between the drag forward end of thebucket when in charging position which becomes the top'of the bucket inconveying'position and the drag line by which the free end of the bucket'is varied in relation with the line, of draft.

12. In a drag line excavator, a bucket, a"

drag line connected adjacent to the rear end of the bucket, the forward or receivingend of the bucket being free for oscillatory movement to and from the line of draft, and a bucket control line connecting the free'for-- ing action of the bucket including acontrol I mg a drag line connected adjacent to the line attached to the front end of the bucket I and adapted by its adjustment to vary the inclination of the bucket under the influence of the drag line. I

14:. in a device of the'character described,

the combination withan excavator having a bail pivotally attached adjacent to its rear: ward end, a dragcable attached to said bail and acontrol cable attached to the forward end of the excavator and guide means for" said control cable movable-with the excavator and drag cable for varying the relative angle of the excavator with the line of draft. j 7 In testimony whereof,'I have hereunto set my hand this 19th day of November, A. D. 1919. V

v HOWARD w. SHERWOOD.

Witnesses:

A. MoL. MARSHAL GEORGE C. HELM'IG. 

